His ministry is key towards revamping the economic and social activities of the country. Schools are now re-opened, multi-national companies will soon commence operations after Ebola. The Transport sector forms a key in this direction. Leonard Balogun-Koroma is the Minister of Transport and Aviation. He recently spoke with ABUBAKAR HASHIM on interesting matters as they affect the transport sector of the economy

How far has the Transport Sector been reformed as Sierra Leone commemorates her 54th Independence Anniversary?

I took over in June 2013. I made it, as policy, that no nation develops without a robust transport sector, be it by land, sea or air. It is the life-blood of the economy.

Could you give a break down of the importance and challenges of this sector?

Yes. Before Ebola struck, the Mining and Agricultural sectors were recording over 80 percent of our Gross Domestic Product {GDP} earnings. Such earning was realizable through a robust transport sector. If we could not extract the iron-ore and agricultural produce to export, these resources will lie fallow. Access to feeder roads, to the mines, to fisheries deposits are directly connected to economic success of the country. Transporting these items are vital to economic success.

•Leonard Balogun-Koroma

There are about 8 parastatals under your Ministry. What are their performances so far?

In the road Transport sector, the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC) has acquired 100 new buses that will arrive in June, to transport our people, with 3 years spare parts. Also, we have rehabilitated our training school with 8 mobile workshops. This move is the seed capital to buy other new buses in the future.

In the Aviation sector, we witnessed the pull out of 7 airlines from the country as a result of Ebola. Only 3 now operate. Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines and Air Cote D’Ivoire. We have instituted robust screening process for passengers at our airport. We succeeded. We have not exported Ebola, neither have we imported it. Proposals are on to establish a new national airline and to commence domestic air transportation. We are also on the move to establish a new international airport on the main land.

In the Maritime sector, we are expanding the sea port, with rail links to the mines, that will have rail connectivity. Also, we intend to develop in-land waterways in the estuaries, in the form of water taxis.

Really, the Ebola virus disease has severely pushed us back in the transport sector. This has a devastating effect on the economy.

How does the immediate future look for this sector?

There is post – Ebola efforts to push the economy back to normalcy, including the transport sector. Ebola has reversed the gains in the transport sector. But we are not relenting. We will revive the loss and bring back the gains in this sector.